Bob Smith on Foreign Policy

Republican Sr Senator (NH; retired 2002)

Maintain military presence in Asia to confront China

I believe a more prudent and pragmatic policy should be taken toward China. We should maintain strong alliances and a vigorous presence in Asia and confront China directly on all aspects of weapons proliferation and military policy which might threaten
our interests.

Source: Smith’s Senate Home Page
Jul 2, 1999

Create Senate committee to investigate China spying

[Regarding the Cox Report,] Sen. Bob Smith of New Hampshire is urging creation of a Senate select committee to investigate Chinese espionage. “We will get to the bottom of this,” he said. “Nobody in this Senate worth his or her salt should have any
objection to that.”

Against UN control of US troops and sovereignty

Senator Smith opposes international agreements that threaten the sovereignty of the United States. He strongly opposed Chemical Weapons Convention, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. He opposes placing U.S. Troops under U.N. command.

Source: www.smithforpresident.org/issues.htm
May 19, 1999

Get US out of UN

I will sign no global agreement that sacrifices United States Sovereignty. I will conduct no military action unless it is in the national security interests of the United States. No troops will serve under UN command. And speaking of the UN, let’s face
it, it is time, on January 21, 2001, I will get us out of the United Nations.

Source: NH Primary Kickoff Dinner Speech
May 2, 1999

Against NATO expansion; if it continues, US should exit

Aiming directly at post-Cold War thinking about NATO as a force against violent instability in Europe, Smith notes that he strongly opposed the alliance’s recent expansion to include Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. NATO’s mission, he says,
should be the defense of its members, period. ‘’if this is what NATO has become - a means of dragging the US into every minor conflict around Europe’s edges - then maybe we should get out of NATO.’’

Source: www.SmithForPresident.org/news.htm “Kosovo”
Apr 2, 1999

No relations with Cuba & Vietnam; keep Radio Marti & others

Sen. Smith thinks the US should not have diplomatic relations with the government of Cuba nor the government of Vietnam. Sen. Smith concurs with continuing funding for Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Radio Marti, TV Marti, and Radio Free Asia.

Source: 1996 National Political Awareness Test
Jul 2, 1996

Russia: link aid to reform

Sen. Smith agrees that economic aid to Russia and the former republics should be decreased and/or eliminated. Smith says, “Aid should be specifically linked to military, economic, and political reform.”

Source: 1996 National Political Awareness Test
Jul 2, 1996

Foreign aid: only for disasters or US security interests

Sen. Smith concurs that foreign aid should only be given when extraordinary circumstances and disaster threaten the lives of civilian populations. Sen. Smith furhter concurs that foreign aid should be given to countries only when it is in the security
interests of the United States.

Source: 1996 National Political Awareness Test
Jul 2, 1996

Retaliatory tariffs OK against Cuba, China

Sen. Smith’s responses to questions on trade:

Smith does not support lifting the trade embargo imposed against Cuba.

Smith does support imposing tariffs on products imported from nations that maintain restrictive trade barriers on American
products.

Smith does support considering a nation’s human rights record affect its MFN trading status with the United States.

Source: 1996 National Political Awareness Test
Jul 2, 1996

Voted NO on enlarging NATO to include Eastern Europe.

H.R. 3167; Gerald B. H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act of 2001, To endorse the vision of further enlargement of the NATO Alliance. Vote to pass a bill that would support further expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, authorize military assistance to several eastern European countries and lift assistance restrictions on Slovakia.